Senior Platform Architect Data & AI

Senior Platform Architect Data & AI - 12 Months - Melle Belgium

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Intro

RELYzIT Talent is seeking a Senior Platform Architect Data & AI for a high-impact freelance assignment with our client in Melle, Belgium. This is a unique opportunity to architect the next generation of data and AI platforms, shaping the future of enterprise intelligence. Join a community where your expertise is valued, your vision drives outcomes, and your VECTOR7™ credential sets you apart.

Why This Role Matters

As a Senior Platform Architect Data & AI, you will be instrumental in defining and executing the long-term vision for our client’s data and AI landscape. Your work will directly influence how data products, AI solutions, and generative AI use cases are realized within a complex enterprise environment. The stakes are high: your architecture will empower business transformation, drive innovation, and ensure secure, scalable, and future-proof platforms that enable the organization to lead in a data-driven world.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Develop and safeguard the architectural vision and multi-year roadmap for the Data & AI Platform, translating strategic objectives into actionable target architectures.


• Define architecture principles, reference architectures, and standards for data platforms, AI, machine learning, generative AI, agentic AI, and event streaming.


• Advise on technology choices, investments, and the evolution of the platform landscape, ensuring alignment with business goals and innovation opportunities.


• Design and maintain architecture patterns for integration across SAP, Databricks, Azure services, Confluent Kafka, API platforms, and other ecosystem components.


• Lead the development of AI solution architectures, including Azure AI Services, Azure OpenAI, Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG), AI agents, and vector-based knowledge architectures.


• Monitor and ensure coherence between performance, scalability, security, compliance, and governance across all data and AI initiatives.


• Support domain and platform teams in applying and implementing architectural guidelines, fostering architectural maturity and best practices.


• Collaborate closely with enterprise architects, data governance, security, platform teams, product owners, and business stakeholders to facilitate architecture decisions and build consensus.


• Represent the Data & AI architecture framework in management meetings, architecture forums, and strategic decision-making processes.


• Stay ahead of AI and data trends, evaluating their relevance and translating them into concrete architectural guidelines and recommendations.

Expected Results

• Developed and maintained Data & AI target architecture and roadmap.


• Established architecture principles, standards, and reference architectures for Data & AI.


• Insightful advice and decision proposals regarding platform choices and innovative technologies.


• Architectural support and guidance for domain and platform teams.


• Clear guidelines and guardrails for AI, data, and integration solutions.


• Active contribution to governance, decision-making, and architectural maturity within the organization.

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience as a data architect on multiple projects with complex data architecture challenges (Senior level).


• Experience as a Data Platform Architect or AI Platform Architect (Medior level).


• Expertise in hybrid environments (on-premise and cloud).


• Ability to translate conceptual information models into logical data models.


• Hands-on experience with AI platforms or MLOps platforms.


• Deep knowledge of Delta Lake and Lakehouse architecture.


• Experience with Generative AI or LLM solutions.


• Track record in developing AI governance or Responsible AI guidelines.


• Experience with Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) architectures.


• Proficiency with vector databases.


• Strong communication skills, analytical ability, and the capacity to clearly substantiate architectural choices (to be demonstrated during interview).


• Demonstrable experience with event-driven architecture.


• Experience with LeanIX.


• Familiarity with SAP BDC, Datasphere, or BW.


• Experience with SAP S/4HANA data extraction.


• AI certification.


• Valid Databricks certification.


• Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification.


• Additional architecture certifications such as TOGAF or ArchiMate are a plus.

Technical Skills

• Data architecture (enterprise-level, complex environments)


• Data platform and AI platform architecture


• Hybrid cloud/on-premise environments


• Delta Lake, Lakehouse architecture


• Generative AI, LLMs, AI agents


• AI governance, Responsible AI frameworks


• Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG)


• Vector databases


• Event-driven architecture, data streaming


• Integration: SAP, Databricks, Azure, Confluent Kafka, API platforms


• LeanIX, SAP BDC/Datasphere/BW, SAP S/4HANA data extraction


• Certifications: AI, Databricks, Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert, TOGAF/ArchiMate (nice to have)

Language Proficiency

• Fluent Dutch at European CEFR level C2 (required)

Other Requirements

• Freelance position – 12 months, based in Melle, Belgium


• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders


• Demonstrated ownership, problem-solving mindset, and a drive for impact


• Commitment to architectural excellence and continuous innovation